The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-31
FEE AND SALARY QUESTION.
An Interesting Discussion Looked for
When 1t Comes in the Legislature.
Clearing Off Committee Reports Relative to
Minor Matters Governors Message in Re-
gard to the States Swamp Land Claims.

The Foster BILL relating TO fees and salaries Of
county officers, is House special order for
Wednesday morning. It will doubtless lead to
a warm discussion. as the changes it seeks TO eff
feet are of radical character, but it is under
stood that the committee report will recommend
its passage, with several amendments to make
the provisions more satisfactory to those immedi-
ately interested But with these proposed alter
atoms warm opposition is expected from
county officers, who think the purposes of the
bill too sweeping, unless such amendments as
would make it an entirely new measure are
secured. On the other hand, the OBJ
ject of such legislation is commend
ed by many members of both houses,
and the two sides will deal with the question
with earnestness, irrespective of party afGia
tions. The Foster bill, however, is regarded as
only the entering wedge which will eventually
lead to the changes in the fee system that have
long been desired. AS the bill went to the COM
mittee, it provided that clerks Of circuit, Grim
inal and superior courts, auditors, treasurers
sheriffs and recorders in counties of less than
twenty thousand population shall receive as
compensation $1,000 per year; in counties
of twenty thousand population and
is to be 1900, and in counties of popu-
| lation greater than thirty five thousand the
| pensation is to be 81, 500 per annum The Off
GERS are TO be entitled to no fees. in whole in
| part. derived from their Offices All fees are
to be paid into the county treasury, and any Of
| ficer who appropriates to his use any fees for
any service whatever connected with his Office
will be held liable on his official bond and to
prosecution for embeZZlement. The sherfs,
though, are to be allowed % cents per day for
| boarding and caring for prisoners. This is a re-
| duction of 10 cents, against which the officers
| named are making strenuous appeals. 1t is also
provided that the Judge of the circuit or superb
or courts may order any officer to procure assist
ants for the necessary discharge of his duties If
| they are too great for one person These assist
| ants are TO draw their salaries In quarterly
installments from the county treasury on auditors
! warrants. A system of reports is contemplated
| in Section a. which reads 'At the regular June
| term of the County Commissioners in each coun-
1 ty said officers shall make an annual statement
| of the condition of their Offices. showing the
| amount OF fees by them taxed. the amount col
| lected, and the amount paid into the county
! treasury. Any officer failing refusing TO COM
| ply fully and faithfully with the provisions of
this section shall be liable upon his official bond
and to fine of not less than 5000 ncr more than
$500 for each failure and refusal to make such
statement
The House is helping the committees to clear
their calendars By, in very few instances.
voting readily to concur in the reported indefi-
mite postponements of many bills that were
| introduced early in the session. On Saturday
| the committee on military affairs recommended
such action several questions, among them
| Representative Robinson's concurrent resolution
| asking Congress enact law pensloning all
| soldiers. resolution offered by representative
| Cough asking Congress to distribute the Treas
ury surplus among the States, according to the
troops they furnished the Union army during
| the Rebellion to be used in erecting memorials
to soldiers. was also indefinitely postponed.
| Mr.. Cough, in resisting this action,
IzA,x L. - ~.
If it was so distributed Indiana would receive
$500, 600, double the appropriation which is
asked for to build soldiers monument. He is
opposed to that measure because the general
government ought to do the work, and again,
because there are several bills looking to an in
crease of the State debt, while not bill has
been offered to provide for an increase OF
| revenue
| The message that Governor Gray sent to both
houses on Saturday. relates 70 the States swamp
land claims. Under the acts of Congress of 1856
and 1855 Indiana. he says. is entitled te
more of these lands than she has received Sew
| eral attempts have been made to secure the evi
dence establishing these claims from the Lane
Department at Washington George W. Juliar
was the States counsel in pushing the demand
for this indemnity, but he was embarrassed
by the want of an appropriation tina
could be used in securing the evidence of living
witnesses prove the that exist
. in the fed-notss and maps of the swamp
land surveys. When Mr.. Julian was made sur
veyor general of New Mexico the Governor ap
? pointed William A. Meley of Washington City
TO prosecute the claims, under agreemen
that the attorney was to have 10 per cenLuin o
any money paid to the State this indemnity
!. together with 10 per centum on a valuation o
) ST. % per acre on all land so secured. The Gov
ernor called attention to the fact that Meloy
' not TO subject the State to any expense or incu
any debt in her behalf. Neoy now wants 10 pc
e cent There has so far been paid into the Stat
? treasury So. 40o7 on this account. and the Gov
t ernor urged an early consideration of the matter
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